Meet Lawrence "Lance" W. Hood, Jr.

Personal Bio

My wife and I have been married since 1999. We are the proud parents of four children. We have a senior at The University of Texas in Austin (hard for an Aggie) finishing his Fine Arts degree with a Minor in Film, a sophomore at Nazareth University in New York studying Musical Theatre, and a senior and freshman in high school here in Mansfield.

My family and I have lived in Mansfield since April 2020. Yes, COVID times. I got involved in the community when COVID restrictions began to loosen up, and I have been active ever since. I have gone through Mansfield's Muni-Versity (Class 1), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, Mansfield Citizen's Police Academy (Class 31), and Mansfield's Citizen's Fire Academy (Class 14).

In addition, the City Council recently appointed me as the Alternate Board Member for the Mansfield Park Facilities Development Corporation. I have also served on the City Arts Council's grant review committee for over three years, volunteered for various city events, and been involved with the Mansfield Soccer Association and Adult Soccer Association since we moved to Mansfield in 2020.

Professional Bio

I have over 25 years of experience as a not-for-profit professional and educator and nearly 30 in volunteer leadership positions.

Throughout my career, I have served on numerous volunteer boards, worked with large and small not-for-profit groups, facilitated support groups for various organizations, and spoken to groups ranging from 10 to over 1,000 within the United States and abroad.

I am an Assistant Principal - Intern at a 6A high school in Mansfield. In addition to my current role, I have served as senior and mid-level management, been an executive director, a training coordinator, a field services director, a performing arts theatre manager, a volunteer coordinator, a tutor, and a coach (within an ISD and recreational sports) among other responsibilities.

Additionally, I have served as a homeland security peer reviewer for the Corporation for National and Community Service. I am a past chairman of the Association for Volunteer Administration’s awards committee and a former Daily Points of Light Award judge. I have been a contracted referee assignor/trainer/referee for the United States Soccer Federation, North Texas Soccer, Mansfield Soccer, Mesquite Soccer, and others.

I have also been published in/on The Optimist (the international magazine of Optimist International), DRIVEN (the national magazine of MADD), Heartbeat Magazine (the global magazine of The Mended Hearts, Inc.), The Dallas Morning News, and various websites and smaller publications.

I have been interviewed by KVIL, KLUV, and KRLD radio in North Texas and by KTVT television. Additionally, I have appeared in news clips on KTVT and KDFW and have been quoted in several print publications.

Academically, I have a Master of Business Administration (with a concentration in Business Leadership and a specialization in Not-For-Profit Management) from the University of Dallas, a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Maritime Administration from Texas A&M University at Galveston. I also hold Texas Teaching Certificates for Principalship, 6-12 Business, 7-12 Math, 4-8 Mathematics and 4-8 Science.

My goals are all based on helping others achieve their goals.

Why I Am Running

1. I want to ensure Mansfield stays as wonderful as it is and was when we first moved here.
2. I am not a lifelong resident - heck, I haven't even quite reached five years yet - but I love this city. 
3. I believe in the saying, "You can't complain if you aren't willing to do something about it." I am trying to do something about it.
4. I am not independently wealthy, and I do not have a job that provides unlimited time off (except for summer months). But I am willing to do what it takes to keep this community as strong as it was when we moved here and as strong as it is today. In short, I care enough to do what is necessary.